Arthur f



A. F. THENER COUNTING, FEEDING, AND LOADING MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. T HENE yv COUNTING; FEEDING, ANDJLoADING Mac'flmxsm 1 Filed July ,"13j-1921 s s eets-sheet :5

Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFFRICE.

neuron r Tammie, or sea Louis, mssouiu; ASSIGNOR. 'ro CUPILES conrm nmomc'runnas, or ST. LOUIS, mssoum; n conromnon or mssouar.

loounrmarnnnmo, AND Lonnme mnamsm.

To allwhom it may concem:

Be'it known that I, ARTHUR F. THENER, a

citizen of the United States, residin at the city of St. Louis, in the State of issouri, have invented certain new and useful I'm provements in Counting, Feeding, and Loading Mechanismypf which the following is a specification. v i

This invention pertains to a device into which a plurality of similar articles, such, for instance, as fruit-jar rings and the like, are fed in sequence, orlin a row, and which automatically divides the row of articles into successive groups,each composed of a predetermined number of articles, and then deposits the selected groups, one after another, each into its respective individual container. 7 a

the articles into groups, each'of which con-' .tains a predetermined number of articles,

I and then loads the groups into their re resides in a novel means of ad'ustment, whereby the machine can be ma e to ap spective containers.

. Another salient feature. of this invention portion to a group any desired number of articles, the amount of adjustment needed forany given number of articles dependmg upon the thickness of the article. Such adjustment is more particularly necessary when all articles of acertai'n-thickness have beenpassed through the machine and de posited in containers in groups of acertain number, as, for instance, twelve, and

- y f it is then desiredto use. the machine for articles of another thickness to be dGPOSItGd, also, in groups oftwe'lve-articles.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts whereverthey occur, 1 a

" Figure I is a front machinep. a

Figure 2 is a to plan view;

j Figure 3 is a rig'ttside-elevation; Figure ie-is a 1 side elevation;

elevation of the entire Application filed m 13, 1921. Serial No. 484,825.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of'Figure 2;

F1gure 6 is a longitudinal central sectional v1ew through one of the dashpots and associated parts;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the feeding-trough, taken on the line 7-,7 in Figure 3, and showing the feeding-rods in elevated feeding position;

and

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the feeding-trough, taken on the line 88 in Figure 3, and showing the feeding-rods invdepressed non-feeding position.

Standards 1 and 67 are secured to the floor by screws 68, and are rovided at their upper ends with central earings 3 and 4, respectively, in which is a stationary shaft 2. secured by being clamped between bearing 3 and its cap 69 by cap screws 70.

Mounted on shaft 2 near the front hearing is a cam-plate 17, having a hub 25, in which is a set-screw 9, for permanently securing cam-plate .17 after the proper position has been determined by adjusting screws 10, which are screwed into boss and have their heads 71 bearing against the inner side of the standard 1.

Loosely, mounted on the shaft 2 at its middle, so as to rotate freely thereon, is a sprocket-wheel 5, having a hub 72, the rear end of which terminates in a plate cam 57, provided with projections 58 and depressions 59. Cast integral with sprocket-wheel 5,0n the side adjacent to cam 57, and concentrically surrounding hub 7 2, is a cylindrical cam 34, having depressions and projections 36. Sprocket-wheel 5, cam 57,

and cam 34. rotate freely on shaft 2 as one unit, being located onthe shaft longitudinallyby the set collars 73 and 74, fixed to the shaft 2 at opposite. ends of the hub 72. Sprocket-wheel 5 is driven through sprocket-chain 6 by a sprocket-wheel 7, fixed to a lineshaft 8, driven by any suitable source of power. j

Sprocket-wheel 5 is provided with a plurality of transverse cylindrical apertures 7 5 (in the present instance, four, spaced 90 a art) near its periphery, for the reception oi dashpots 14. The dashpots 14 are externally threaded at their open opens .76 for the reception of internally-threaded caps 77 and nuts '78, the 'sprocketewheel 5 being clamped between the nuts 78 and the shoulders 79 of the caps 77 as best shown in Figure 6. A piston-rod 13 integral with piston 15 passes through a bearing 80 1a the closed end of dashpot 14 and through a bearing 81 in the cap 77. The bearing 81 has secured therein a key 82, which fits keyway 83 in piston-rod 13, and allows piston-rod 13 to reciprocate, but prevents it from turning. The keyed end of rod 13 terminates in a block 29, whichis tapped concentrically with rod 13 for the reception of an externally-threaded pin or finger 18. Finger 18 is locked against turning or unscrewing by a set-screw 30, which screws in the block 29 and bears on the pin 18. The other end of rod 13 has secured thereto by a pin 84 a head 12, inwhich is mounted a roller 11 turning on pin 85 fixed in head 12. The rollers 11 are adapted to ride on the cam-plate 17 and are pressed in the direction of the cam-plate 17 by a compression spring 16 interposed between cap 77 and piston 15. An opening 31 in the dashpot 14 is of such size that the rate at which air escapes therethrough is suflicient to allow the piston 15 to move with ample speed under the influence of the spring 16 and yet prevent any undue shock.

Finger 18 is adjusted so that it will just touch a plate 19 when rod 13 has been forced rearwardly to its utmost extent by the camplate 17. The plate 19 is clamped to a plate 86, integral with standard 67, by screws 87, both plates being perpendicular to the shaft 2. A shell 27, integral with plate 19 and extending perpendicularly therefrom at its left at approximately the height of the shaft 2, is supported by a block 51 on an arm 88 of standard 67, the block 51 being secured to the arm 88 by a screw 52.

A trough 21, supported at one end in the shell 27, and at another point by a block 50, on a standard 89, secured to the floor by screws 68, serves to support the stock 24 of fruit-jar rings or the like on its way to the counter. A block 90, similar to the block 50, is secured to the rear end of the trough 21. The trough 21 is provided with a pair of longitudinal slots 91 in its bottom, thereby dividing the trough into three sections, which are secured in place on the blocks 50, 51, and 90.

The blocks 50, 51, and 90 have'bearings' 92 near their lower ends, one on each side, in which are pivoted rods 26 and 93, se-' cured against longitudinal movement by collars 94 fixed thereto, one against each end of the block 50. Rods 26 and 93 are connected, so as to oscillate simultaneously in opposite directions, by intermeshing gear sectors 65 and 66, fixed to the rods 26 and 93, respectively, at the rear end of the trough 21. The forward end of rod 93 has fixed thereto a lever 55 carrying a roll 56 adapted to ride on the cam 57. A tension s rin 64 connectin arms 53 and 54. fixed b 3 c to rods 93 and 26, respectively, near the middle of each of said rods, tends to rotate rod 93, and with it lever 55, so that cam roll 56 is thereby continually retained in engagement with cam 57. Rod 93 has disposed along its inner side a. series of rollers 43, journaled on studs 01' pintles 42 secured in the rod 93. Similarly, rod 26 carries the rollers 45, journa-led on studs 44, secured in rod 26.

Loosely fitting in the slots 91, so as to rest by their own weight on the rolls 43 and 45, is a pair of feed bars 47, having notches 49 for clearing the rolls 43 and 45, the bottoms of the notches resting on the said, roll. Feed rods 47 are connected together by U-shaped plates 37, 95, and 96, secured to the rods 47 by screws 46, and have beveled top edges 48.

To the right of bearing 4, in standard 67,

is another bearing 97, through which reciprocates a rod 39, parallel to the shaft 2. The front end of bearing 97 is of greater diameter than the rod 39, forming a recess 98 for containing a compression spring 99, surrounding rod 39, and interposed between a collar 100, integral with rod 39, and the shoulder 101 within the recess 98. Rod 39 has journaled in its front end a roller 33, which rides on the cam 34, and is maintained in contact therewith by the spring 99. The rear end of rod 39 is connected by a link 40 to one end of a substantially Z-shaped rocking-lever 32, pivoted at 41 to a bracket 102 projecting from the rear end" of bearing 4. The other end of lever 32 is slotted longitudinally at 103, as shown in Figure 7. A stud 38, secured to the bottom of plate 37, passes through the slot 103. The connections of the lever 32 to the plate 37 and to the bracket 102 are slightly loose vertically, to allow for vertical movement of the lever 32 when the feed-bars 47 are reciprocated vertically by the movement of the rolls 43 and 45 due to the rocking of the rods 26 and 93. A slight bend at 104 in the lever 32 allows the said lever 32 to clear the rod 93.

Guard plates 22 end of trough 21 between them the are secured to the front by screws 105, leaving slot 23 for the passage of the fingers 18. A guard-band 60 is arranged before the front side of plate 19, being supported by bracket 63, riveted to band 60, and having slots 106, whereby they may be adjustedforwardly or backwardly. the screws 107, screwed into plate 19 and passing through the slots 106, securing the brackets 63 after such adjustment has been made. Guard plates 22 can, also, be brought further forwardby placing shims or washers of proper thickness between them and ing apassage through which the stock24:

i carried upwardly by the fingers 18, the

front side 1,08 ofthe plate 19 being in a plane with the edge 109 of shell 27,, and the inside 110 of guards 22 being in a plane with the inside 111 of band 60. The adjustnientof band 60 and guard-plates 22 regulate the number of articles or fruitjar rings which can be lifted at one time from the trough 21 by the fingers 18.

The mode of operation of this machine, briefly described, is as follows:

Motive power is supplied to the shaft 8, rotating it and sprocket 7, chain 6, sprocket 5, and cams 34 and 57, in a clockwise direction, when viewed from the front end of the machine. The stock 21 of fruit-jar rings or the like isplaced in thetrough 21,

and fed toward the guard 22 by the feed-bars 47, reciprocated in a forward direction by the cam 34, while being held in the elevated position, as shown in Figure 7, by the upward movement of the rolls 13 and 45, caused by the roll .56 riding in a depression 59 of the cam 57. Cams 34 and 57 are so timed, relatively to one another, that when the "feedbars 47 are reciprocated backwardly by the action of the spring 99, as permitted by the depressions 35 in the cam 34, the bars 47 will be depressed out of contact with the stock 2-1, so that no retrogression of ries with it the fingers 18, which are pushed into the slot 23 by the rolls 11 traveling up the incline 112 of the cam 17. Pins 18 are so adjusted that their free ends are in a plane with the face 108 and edge 109 when the rolls 11' have reached the top off the incline 112. At this instant, also, they begin to lift the shook 28, or that part of the stock 24 whichlies between the guards 22 and the edge 109. The shook may contain any number of rings or the like, the number being determined by the adjustment of the guards 22 and the band 60, as hereinbefore described. As the sprocket wheel continues to rotate, the shook passes between band and plate 19, the face 108 and the edge 111 confining the shook within proper bounds to prevent its displacement and the separation of its component rings, so that when roll 11 reaches the abrupt termination 113, onthe side of cam 17 diammetrically opposite to the incline 112, the finger 18 is withdrawn from the shook 28 by the action of the spring 16 and theshook is deposited by gravity, in

compact and undisturbed form, into a receptacle 114. i v

The receptacles ll lmay be placed in their receiving positionsand removed therefromby hand, or they maybe carried by any suitable type ofproperlyetimed automaticconveyor, whichlatter forms no part of thisinvention, and is, therefore, not depicted in the drawings nor described in this specification.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form,arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evi ent that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a shaft, a rotarymember mounted thereon having sprockets, sprocket means adapted to drive the same,

dashpots mounted on the said rotary-mem- 2 her, a plunger passing through each of the said dashpots and having a piston mounted thereon and within each of the said dashpots, a cam with which one of the said plungers is adapted to engage, and workpresenting means located adjacent to the other end of the said plunger.

2. The combination of a driving-member, a cam, spring-pressed finger-members, a stock-trough, and means for feeding stock in the said trough to the said fingers, there being a clear space forward of the said trough into which stock can be pushed from one direction and into which one of the said fingers can be pushed from the opposite direction.

3. The combination of a driving-member, a cam, spring-pressed finger-members, a stocktrough, and means for feeding stock in the said trough to the said fingers, there being a clear space forward of the said trough into which stock can be pushed from one direction and into which one of the said fingers can be pushed from the opposite direction, the said fingers being mounted upon a rotary member the rotation of which causes the said cam to force the said fingers into position to lift some 'of the said stock.

1. A counting, feeding, and loading mechanism comprising the combination of feeding-rods having friction-runners mountmember provided with sprockets mounted upon said shaft, sprocket means adapted to drive the same, dash-pots mounted on said rotary member, a plunger mounted behind the said dash-pots, a piston mounted thereon and located in the interior of the said dash-pots, said plungers being adapted to engage the cam intermittently to engage material to be lifted, means adapted intermittently to advance material toward the said 10 member. and means to time the said operations relative to each other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ARTHUR F. THENER 

